Random Golf Thoughts

Padraig Harrington was on the late late show saying he was thought 18 holes was too many for a round, but given the interviewer we never got to find out what his proposal was.

I remember about 6 years ago there was a lot of buzz and press about a new golf series that would be something like 6 holes and it was being backed by a load of famous people, wonder what ever happened to that?

I’d be in favour of much less than 18, maybe about 12 holes being the norm. 18 is just too much of a slog, too much of a good thing and all that. It would help keep maintenance costs of courses down, and given the massive shortage of golf courses worldwide would mean new courses would be more likely to open up when they don’t need as much space and as much money to set up. Would also make viewing professional tournaments better imho. But I agree the current generation of golfers aged 50+ would never vote for any change like this, so we are probably a good 15 years away from any change like this.

John Murphy ? Has had a very good college career. Made the final group of Dunhill.. had other decent performances, he's only 23 so got a bit of time compared to most of the lads in that article

Infairness they must be a pain to use, would always have to move them because if you hit them you're screwed haha

Must say they do annoy me and not much annoys me on the golf course. If I think my ball will come within 6 inches of one of those things I'll get them to move it.

So as said above it must be annoying for anyone using one to be constantly moving it.

Something I was thinking of the other day was the relationship between playing well and scoring well.

What do you think of the relationship between the two? I usually dismiss people saying they're playing well but not scoring. Golf is the game where you really do have an actual measure of how well you're playing - your scores and your handicap. But at the same time, there's truth to it when someone says they're playing well but just not scoring and I certainly go by it myself.

I constantly come in with terrible scores but think back through the round and reconcile it with myself that I wasn't too far off having a decent score. When you take out the 5 3 putts, duffed chips, lost ball that I thought was on the fairway.... suddenly my 27 point round was more like a 37 point round which I'd have shot had I been concentrating which I would have had I been playing a bit better / more often.

But while I scoff at myself, I do believe there's truth to it. If I've no score, I'm far more likely to three putt or duff a chip. As hard as I try, I just can't get the same level of focus. And there are periods where you're really nailing the irons - long, straight, the desired flight. But just misjudging them or the wind and not capitalising on your good strikes. As opposed to the times where you're not making good contact with anything. But your misses are all short and not leaving you in trouble, so you're still putting bogies on the card and getting up and down for a few pars.

What do ye reckon? If you're playing better than you're scoring over a decent period of time, are you in fact just not playing well?

Joined a club this year and have struggled to get out as I am busy and so is the time sheet!

Wanted to play on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago and they had some kind of competition on. 2 ball better ball or something. I didn’t want to play and neither did any of the other lads(I know two of them, the other not at all).

Competition secretary has sent me a friendly email asking why I didn’t take part?

If I put my name down do I have to take part?

Should I expect a warning or anything?!

Would depend on the demand for the competition times I'm sure. Some clubs are full 3-4 days before the competition while others have times never used.

Regarding Open weeks for golf courses. How do you find out what clubs are having open weeks and dates etc.

I played a few last year but they were last minute phone calls from mates or my brothers to say its open week here or there. Be good to know more in advance so you can plan them better.

Is there a list or website or do you have to go to each club's website to find out?